New guinea impatiens plant named &#39;duesspwhtcld&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Duesspwhtcld’ characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers with a pink-colored blush; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESSPWHTCLD’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesspwhtcld’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Impatiens plants with numerous attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Impatiens×hybrida identified as code number NN-0021-X0000, not patented. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Dec. 8, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since Jan. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duesspwhtcld’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duesspwhtcld’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. White-colored flowers with a pink-colored blush.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection have pure white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens×hybrida ‘SAKIMP018’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,768. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of         ‘SAKIMP018’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens had solid green-colored leaves         whereas plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ had variegated leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘SAKIMP018’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘SAKIMP018’ have pure white-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of

Impatiens×hybrida ‘Duessplavaur’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Duessplavaur’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens had lighter green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Duessplavaur’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Duessplavaur’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Duessplavaur’ have light         lavender-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesspwhtcld’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesspwhtcld’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15.25-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 27° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens×hybrida ‘Duesspwhtcld’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of Impatiens×hybrida identified as code number     NN-0021-X0000, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color, actual             color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,             water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about 16             lateral branches developing per plant; vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 22.4 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 9 mm to 12 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 11.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             opened leaves, upper surface: Darker than 147A; venation,             close to 147D. Fully opened leaves, lower surface: Close to             147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petiole length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 147D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded and flat             axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically about 54             flower buds and open flowers per plant at one time; flowers             positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers             typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about one to two             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in temperate regions; early flowering habit, plants             typically begin flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Ovoid, pointed. Color: Close to N155B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.8 cm by 6 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl; one upper banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.4 cm. Width,             banner petal: About 5 cm. Length, lateral petals: About             3 cm. Width, lateral petals: About 3.5 cm. Length, lower             petals: About 3.3 cm. Width, lower petals: About 3.4 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Cordate; emarginate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to N155B blushed with close to 62C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to N155B blushed with close to 62C; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             NN155C; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About 2 cm.             Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Apiculate.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 145D. Spur length: About 5.6 cm. Spur diameter: At             the flower, about 3 mm; towards the apex, about 1 mm. Spur             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: Close to 145D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Angle: About 45° to 50° from stem axis. Strength:             Strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: Less than 1 mm.             Filament color: Close to 1D. Anther size: About 3 mm by             5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155C.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             5 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145C.             Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duesspwhtcld’ as illustrated and described. 